Sep 222014
 
Rashad Jennings, New York Giants (September 21, 2014)

Rashad Jennings – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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September 22, 2014 New York Giants Injury Report: Not practicing during Monday’s jog-thru practice were WR Odell Beckham (hamstring), LB Devon Kennard (hamstring), and CB Zack Bowman (quad).

“I think that there is improvement in Odell and there has been every week. I don’t believe he is there,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin. “We are trying to be as patient as we can with the idea being that when we get him back, we are going to have him.”

LB Jon Beason (foot/ankle), OT Charles Brown (shoulder), OT James Brewer (back), and P Steve Weatherford (ankle) practiced on a limited basis.

“We are going to see to what extent Jon can be a part of our on the field work,” said Coughlin.

Giants Sign OG Eric Herman to the Practice Squad: The Giants have signed offensive guard Eric Herman to the Practice Squad. The team waived Herman from the 53-man roster last Friday. To make room for Herman, the Giants terminated the Practice Squad contract of offensive tackle Mark Asper.

September 22, 2014 Tom Coughlin Press Conference: The transcript of Head Coach Tom Coughlin’s Monday conference call is available at Giants.com.

September 22, 2014 New York Giants Player Media Q&As: Transcripts of media conference calls on Monday with the following players are available at BigBlueInteractive.com:

NY Post Q&A with TE Larry Donnell: Serby’s Sunday Q&A with Larry Donnell by Steve Serby of The New York Post

Article on Head Coach Tom Coughlin: Regardless of Defeats, Coughlin Won’t Lose His Passion by Harvey Araton of The New York Times

Article on RB Rashad Jennings: Rashad Jennings dedicated his 176-yard game to his double-amputee father by Steve Politi of The Star-Ledger

Article on the New York Giants Offensive Line: J.J. Watt vs. Giants: Who handled the league’s best defensive player? by Conor Orr of The Star-Ledger

Article on the Giants-Texans Game: Giants snap counts vs. Texans and what they mean by Jordan Raanan of The Star-Ledger

Sights and Sounds from Giants-Texans Game: A sights and sounds video from the Giants-Texans game is available at Giants.com.

 

Sep 012014
 
Tom Coughlin, New York Giants (August 16, 2014)

Tom Coughlin – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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September 1, 2014 New York Giants Injury Report: Not practicing on Monday were WR Odell Beckham (hamstring), LG Geoff Schwartz (toe), and OG Brandon Mosley (back).

Head Coach Tom Coughlin was asked if there was any chance that Beckham might practice this week. “I doubt that very much,” said Coughlin. “Let’s just let this kid get better. Everybody settle down and let the kid get better. I mean, I went to him and said, ‘Let’s not have any more setbacks.’ Whatever it takes to get over this, let’s do this. Let’s encourage him, let’s not let him feel like he is an outsider, let’s get on with it. But, I mean, to talk about him every day. I will let you know when he is ready to do something, I will let you know.”

“Because it is every day it is the same question over and over,” continued Coughlin. “He is not ready to play. He may be a couple, three weeks away, so we are not going to talk about him. We have a game to play. Can we talk about the guys playing in the game, instead of people that are on the injury report. Thank you for bearing with me on that one.”

“I have no idea (when I will practice),” said Beckham. “We don’t have any (timetable), that’s something you have to ask Coach or the trainers really.”

“I would say that (Mosley) is much better than he was before the start of the weekend, or whatever day this is, and if he continues to make that kind of progress, perhaps he will be able to practice later in the week,” said Coughlin.

LB Jon Beason (foot), CB Prince Amukamara (groin), OT Charlie Brown (shoulder), and OT James Brewer (back) returned to practice.

“Yeah, I fully participated today and I felt good,” said Beason. “Guys told me I looked really fast out there. Obviously, I should, with fresh legs. It was hot, but you just keep going. The will has to be greater than the pain. You have to fight through it, knowing that every rep is a rep getting closer to playing.”

New York Giants Add OT Mark Asper to Practice Squad: The Giants have added OT Mark Asper to the Practice Squad, filling eight of the 10 available Practice Squad vacancies. Asper was waived by the Giants on Saturday. Because of this move, we have updated the Transactions and Roster sections of the website.

September 1, 2014 Tom Coughlin Press Conference: The transcript and video from Monday’s press conference with Head Coach Tom Coughlin are available at Giants.com.

September 1, 2014 New York Giants Player Media Q&As: Transcripts and video of Monday’s media Q&A sessions with the following players are available at Giants.com:

Article on 2014 New York Giants: Giants have second-oldest roster; breaking it down by position by Jordan Raanan of NJ.com

Article on DE Kerry Wynn: Kerry Wynn, the surprise Giant by Dan Graziano of ESPN.com

Article on CB Zack Bowman: New corner helping Giants’ D focus on ‘ball or nothing’ by Paul Schwartz of The New York Post

Aug 302014
 
John Conner, New York Giants (August 9, 2014)

John Conner – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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The New York Giants made 22 roster moves on Saturday in order reduce the roster to 53 players as required by the NFL.

In addition, the Giants activated linebacker Jon Beason from the Physically-Unable-to-Perform (PUP) List. Beason passed his physical and can now practice for the first time since injuring his foot on June 12 during an Organized Team Activity (OTA) practice. “He’s ready to practice,” said Head Coach Tom Coughlin. “You need that kind of dynamic leadership. The guy loves the game, he loves to play it. He’ll have the biggest smile on his face come Monday when he trots out there.”

The Giants waived or terminated the contracts of the following players:

  • QB Curtis Painter
  • RB Kendall Gaskins
  • RB Michael Cox
  • FB John Conner
  • WR Julian Talley
  • TE Kellen Davis
  • OL Rogers Gaines (waived/injured)
  • OL Mark Asper
  • OL Jamaal Johnson-Webb
  • OL Adam Gress
  • DE Israel Idonije
  • DE Jordan Stanton
  • DT Kelcy Quarles
  • LB Dan Fox
  • LB Terrell Manning
  • CB Bennett Jackson
  • CB Chandler Fenner
  • S Thomas Gordon

The Giants also placed the following players on season-ending Injured Reserve, although this doesn’t preclude the team from making an injury settlement:

  • WR Trindon Holliday (hamstring)
  • WR Mario Manningham (calf)

The Giants also placed the following players on the Reserve/Suspended List for violating NFL drug policies:

  • OL Eric Herman (4-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs)
  • CB Jayron Hosley (4-game suspension for illegal drugs)

Because of these moves, we have updated the Transactions, Roster, and Depth Chart sections of the website.

“There were a lot of good, competitive positions, even going into Thursday night’s game with New England,” Coughlin said. “Many of the young guys were competing, not only for roster spots but for the practice squad. That is an important concept as well. It is in the best interest of the clubs to be able to go to their practice squad, if the need is there, for a player who has been in your meeting rooms the entire summer and fall.”

With Painter being cut, Ryan Nassib will be the only quarterback on the roster behind Eli Manning. “Ryan Nassib made big strides,” Coughlin said. “I think that his third and fourth preseason games were outstanding. You see definite improvement. You see the work that he’s put in. He’s been a very good student and he’s applied that to the field. What I really liked is he did have a poor preseason game and he came back with two good ones. That showed me, he didn’t do it by talking, he did it by working.”

Speaking of the competition at fullback between Conner and Henry Hynoski, Coughlin said, “Two very good players. Both guys can play in this league. Very, very close. Both of them are physical. They’ll knock the heck out of you. Utmost respect for John Conner, I think he’s a heck of a player and a great competitor and a good man. He doesn’t say a word, just goes and does his job. Give me all of those you can find.”

Preston Parker, New York Giants (August 9, 2014)

Preston Parker – © USA TODAY Sports Images

Coughlin on WR Preston Parker, who made the team: “Preston’s been around a little bit. Preston also has the punt return/kickoff return ability. Right now that’s very critical for us, because Odell Beckham was going to be the punt returner.”

Coughlin on keeping Kerry Wynn over Israel Idonije at defensive end: “We had tremendous respect for Izzy (Idonije) because of the quality of man he is. He came in here and whatever we asked him to do, he did. He battled, he competed. The other night he played a lot of nice snaps. At this point in time, the idea of developing the young player was first and foremost on your minds as we put the roster together…I like the fact that (Wynn) has very good size and he runs well. He flashed in the preseason and he is a young prospect that works hard, studies hard. We think he has a lot of upside.”

“They’re great stories and that’s what this thing is all about,” Coughlin said. “Your needs are much deeper than seven picks in the draft or sometimes you’re not in position to help yourself in free agency because of the cap, so this is still the source. And when a young guy comes along and they look like they’ve got a high end, you’re excited about it. Especially when they work hard, they study hard, it’s important to them and they have great desire. You can see it on some of these kids’ faces that this means so much to them, and quite frankly it re-energizes me.

“Even on a day like this where I have to let people go, when I see what the game means to certain players and when I see that, then I think there’s hope, to be honest with you. I do. Not just hope here, hope for everybody in this world because we’re not going through the motions. They love it. They love what they’re doing, they love the game. That’s how it all starts. For the normal young person that comes along and plays this game, it started with the love of the game. You compete, it’s about competitors. It’s still about competitors and people who are determined to be the best that they can be at what they do. That’s what reinforces me.”

After noon on Sunday, the Giants can sign 10 players to their Practice Squad, if they are not claimed off of waivers first.

“The practice squad is not taken lightly,” Coughlin said. “There are a lot of things that go into making choices and one of the things that’s really important, that has to be stressed, this summer is that we’ve got it to 10. And that’s a very important thing, the fact that we can have 10 practice squad guys means a lot in terms of your ability to prepare. Because as you go through the season and you have the various nicks that occur during the course of it and players can’t practice, at least you can continue to service your first groups with your practice squad players. That helps tremendously because the drain always comes.

“If a two becomes a one, then who services the other side of the ball? That’s a major concern for us at this level, because you have to continue to improve. People don’t realize that, it is about improvement and it’s not just about games, it’s about improving and your chance to improve on the practice field is so important.”

Article on the 2014 New York Giants: Embarking on a New Path by Bill Pennington of The New York Times

NY Post Q&A with WR Victor Cruz: Serby’s Sunday Q&A with Victor Cruz by Steve Serby of The New York Post

Jul 282014
 
Mark Asper, Buffalo Bills (November 17, 2013)

Mark Asper – © USA TODAY Sports Images

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Giants Claim Mark Asper Off Waivers: The New York Giants claimed Mark Asper off of waivers from the Buffalo Bills on Monday. To make room for Asper, the Giants waived offensive tackle DeMarcus Love.

Asper was originally drafted by the Bills in the 6th round of the 2012 NFL Draft. The Bills waived him in August 2012, and he then spent time with the Minnesota Vikings and Jacksonville Jaguars before returning to the Bills in September 2013. In two seasons, Asper has played in seven games with no starts. Asper has very good size and is versatile with experience at tackle, guard, and even some center. However, his height (6’7”) makes it difficult for him to play with leverage at guard and center, and he lacks ideal arm length and overall foot quickness for tackle.

The Giants signed Love as a street free agent in June 2014. Love was originally drafted in the 6th round of the 2011 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings waived him in October 2013 and he was then picked up by the Jacksonville Jaguars, who waived him in June 2014 before the Giants signed him.

Terrell Thomas, New York Giants (November 10, 2013)

Terrell Thomas – © USA TODAY Sports Images

Terrell Thomas Signs with Seahawks: The Seattle Seahawks have signed unrestricted free agent cornerback Terrell Thomas to a 1-year contract. Thomas was drafted by the Giants in the 2nd round of the 2008 NFL Draft. After missing 2011 and 2012 with back-to-back ACL tears in his right knee, Thomas finished 2013 with 67 tackles, 1 sack, 7 pass defenses, 1 interception, and 1 forced fumble, primarily serving as the team’s slot corner. He played in all 16 games with seven starts.

The Giants had no interest in re-signing Thomas after signing cornerbacks Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Walter Thurmond, and Zack Bowman and re-signing Trumaine McBride in free agency. The Giants also drafted Bennett Jackson in the 6th round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

Because of these moves, we have updated the Transactions, 2014 Free Agent Scorecard, New York Giants Free Agent Losses (with scouting reports), Roster, and Depth Chart sections of the website.